Mining machine



March l5, 1932. M P HOLMES 1,849,298

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 27. 1927 6 Zzven for.'

Patented Mar. l15, 1932 UNITED sTAT'Es PATENT omer; ,1

MORRIS I. HoLMES, or cLAnEMoNT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, -ASSIGNOB To SULLIVAN Mn,

GHINEEY coMrANY, A con? oRArIoN or MASSACHUSETTS 1 MINING MACHINE i Application med December 27, 19a?, serial No. 242,707. Renewed Apriti 15, 1931.

i V This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly to improved controlling means for the feeding mechanisms of such machines. A A

An object` of this invention is vto provide a mining machine having improved feeding mechanism. Another object is to provide a mining machine having improved controlling means for the machine feeding mechanism. Still another object is to provide a mining machine feeding mechanism having a speed controlling clutch and a main feed controlling clutch and improved controlling means for selectively connecting said clutches. A further object isto provideaminingmachine feeding mechanism having fast and slow Speed` clutches and a main feed control ling clutch and improved controlling Imechanism including a common manual controlling element for selectively actuating said clutches.A These and other objects of this invention Will subsequently more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there `is shown one illustrative form which Vthe invention may assumeinpractice. y

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectionalview, partially in plan,'of the machine feeding mechanism with which the improved .controlling means is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional iew taken substantially on line 24-2 of Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially onv li1ne.3- -3 of' v Fig. 1. p

Fig. 4 is a transverse Vvertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.` y

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the actuating mechanism for the main feed controlling clutch.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 7 with parts shown in plan. Fig. 7 is an end yelevational vie-Wpartially in section of the controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 6. y,

In the illustrative embodiment disclosed the invention is shown incorporated in the feedingmechanism of 'a mining machine of the flexibly fed longwall type Which is sub- Well to mining machines ofvarous otherv types. The mining machinecomprises a inachine frame 1 slidable on its bottom v2011 the mine floor under the propulsion of theflexible feeding mechanism described below.

The machine feeding mechanism herein comprises an armature pinion3 vfixed toone end of the armature shaft 4 of a usual reversible velectric motor. The pinion 3v is meshed With an idlergear 5 Which in turn meshes With a gear6.- Rotatable with the gear 6 is a bevel pinion 7 Which meshes With, a ,bevel gear'8 keyed at 9 to ahorizvontal vshaft 10 extending transversely of the machine and suitably journaled Within the machine frame. As illustrated, the shaft 1() has'keyed thereto at 11 a gear 12 Which meshes With a gearf13 lreyed'at 14 to a shaft 15 arranged above and parallel With the shaft 10 and lilevvise jourp posite direction. The Worms land 17mesh with fast and slow speed Worm driving gears 18 and 19, these Worm gears being coaxially arranged and rotatable about a verticalaxis Within the machine frame as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Arranged coaxially with these Worm gears intermediate the same is a spur pinion 20 hereinv formed integral with a shaft 21 suitably journaled Within the Worm s gears 18 and 19. The pinion 20 is adapted to be .alternatively driven by the Worm gears 18 land 19 at fast and slow speeds in opposite directions, vand the mechanism for alternatively connecting the gears With the pinion comprises friction clutches 22 and 23 housed Withiny the Worm gears 18 and 19 respectively,

certain elements of these lclutches being connected to the Worm gears While other ele-.

ments are yconnected to the spur pinion 20.

The mechanism for selectively applyingl the friction clutches 22 and 23 will hereinafter be described.

As shown in Fig. 4 the spur pinion 20 meshes with a spur gear 24 connectible, in a manner to be later described, to a vertically disposed shaft 25 disposed in the longitudinal vertical center of the machine and suitably journaled within the machine frame.

.The shaft 25 has secured thereto by a key 26 a feed operating member 27 herein in the form of a chain sprocket adapted to cooperate with suitable flexible feeding means in the form of a feed chain, (not shown). The means for connecting the spur vgear 24 to the shaft 25 is in the form of a main feed controlling clutch and comprises external clutch teeth 28 formed on a flanged portion 2,9 of 'the shaft 25. Internal clutch teeth 30 are formed on a clutch ring 31 movably mounted in the recessed portion of the gear 24 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 and these clutch teeth 'engage clutchy teeth 32 formed on the gear 24. The clutch teeth 30 on the clutch ring 31 are adapted to be slid downwardly into engagement with the clutch teeth 28 on the shaft 25, as hereinafter described, thereby connecting the shaft directly to the gear 24. The clutch ring 31 is 'retained within the recess in the gear 24 by means of a radially eXpansible split ring 33 seated in a. groove in the gear, this split ringfo-rming a projecting shoulder with which a radial flange on the clutch ring is adapted to engage. The clutch ring 31 is normally yieldably maintained in engagement with the ring 33 by means of coiled springs 34. As the 4feeding mechanism described above is clearly described in my copending application mentioned above further detailed description of the same is herein deemed unnecessary.

' The improved controlling means for the vfast and slow speed frictionv clutches 22 and 23 and the main Vfeed controlling clutch 28, 30, 32 are as follows: Interposed between the worm gears 18 and 19 and pivotally connected to the machine. frame at 35 `for swinging movement is a shipper yoke 36 equipped with rollers 37 engagea-ble with the clutch applying members 38 and. 39 for the friction clutches 22 and 23 respectively. The means.

employed for swinging the shipper yoke 36 about its pivot 35 comprises a crank pin or eccentric 40 herein formed integral with a rotatable rod 41-journaled at its opposite ends within bearings 42 suitably carried by the machine frame. As shown in Fig. 1 rotation of the rod 41 is limited by a suitable pin and slot connection 43. Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be observed that the, rod 41 has secured thereto at its outer end by a key 44 a sleeve 45 in turn having fixed the-reto by a key 46 a clutch member 47. The clutch member 47 is held in position on the x sleeveby means of a screw and washer connection 48; Rotatably and slidably the teeth 53 on the cam member 52. The

controlling element 49 is maintained in said inner and outer-positions by means of a spring pressed plunger 54 carried one of the spokes or grasping portions of the controlling elementand engageable in its .different positions with annular grooves 55 formed on the sleeve 45. As shown, cooperating .with this cam member 52 is a lever or crank 56 pivotallyl mounted ona horizontal axis at 57 on the machine frame. The end of this lever 56 engaging the eccentric member has aprojection 58 adapted to cooperate with spaced Vnotches 59 formed on the periphery of the cam member at substantially diametrically opposite points; these notches being adapted to maintain the lever 56 in its different adjusted positions. ,The other end of the lever 56 is provided `with a bifurcated or forked portion 6() -which engages a pin 61 carried by an adjustable eye member 62 threadedly connected at 63 to the outer end of an axiallymovable actuating rod 64. The rod 64 is slidably mount- T00 ed within bores 65 formed within the machine frame, and rotative movement of this rod is prevented by a suitable pin and slot connection 66. As shown in Fig. k1 the reciprocable rod 64 is provided with a laterally projecting ror L,

tooth or lug 67 cooperatingv with and projecting between laterally projecting lugs or teeth 68 formed on a rotatable shipper ringl 69. Carried by this shipper ring are a plurality of radially located pins y70 which engage inclined cam slots 71 formed in a dependingV flange portion-of a stationary annular member 72 suitably secured to the machine frame. As shown in Fig. 1 this annular member 72 is centrally cut away to receive the hub of the spur gear 24 and is further'cutaway at 7 3 vto clear the upper worm gear 19. Carried by the shipper member 69 and journaled on the pins 7 0 are rollers 74 which engage the upper plane surface ofthe clutch ring 31.

In the use of the improved controlling` means. when it is desired to connect the feed sprocket 27 to the motor to effect feeding movement of the machine, the operator first .Q'raspsr the controlling element 49 and slides f the same inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby connecting the clutch teeth 51 thereon with the clutch teeth 53 on the cam member 52. Upon rotation'of the controlling element 49 the cam member v52 is rotated and as a result the cam depresses the rviso lever 56, moving the latterfrom the full line position shown in Fig. 7 tothe dotted line position shown, thereby sliding the rod 64'outwardly and consequently rotating the clutch ring 69. Rotation of the clutch ring 69 causes the pins carried thereby to move downwardly within the inclined cam slotsl, moving the clutch ring downwardly and consequently depressing the clutch ring 31 thereby interlocking the clutch teeth on the clutch ring 31'with the teeth 29 on the shaft 25 and with the .teeth 32 on the gear 24, thereby connecting the shaft to the gear. The lever 56 and consequently the clutch is maintained in this position by the projection 58 on the lever cooperating with one of the notches 59 on the cam member 52. It will herein be noted that the coil springs 34 acting between the elements 24'and 31 normally maintain the clutch parts including the slidable rod 64C in their released position. The operator then slides the controlling element 49 outwardly, disconnecting the teeth 51 and 53 and connecting the teeth 50 with the teeth on the clutch member 47, thereby connecting the controlling element to the sleeve 45 which is keyed to the clutch operating rod 41. Upon rotation of the controlling element 49 in one direction or the other the shipper yoke 39 is swung either upwardly or downwardly, applying one or the other of the friction clutches 22 and 23, and as a result connecting either the fast speed worm gear 18 or the slow speed worm gear 19 in driving relation with the spur pinion 20. It will also be noted that when the controlling element 49 is slid into the intermediate or neutral position shown in Fig. 6 the clutch teeth thereon are disconnected from the clutch teeth on vboth the clutch member 47 and cam member 52.

As a result of this invention an improved mining machine feeding mechanism is pro'- vided whereby but a single controlling element is employed for actuating the speed controlling clutches 'and themain feed controlling clutch. It will further be noted that by utilizing but a single controlling element conveniently located on the machine it is possible to control the feed in an exceedingly facile manner. It will still further be notedthat improved controlling means are provided for a mining machine feeding mechanism which is exceedingly inexpensive, rugged and compact, and which may be applied to a standard mining machine with -a minimum of change. These and other uses and advantages of this invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in this art.

Vhile I have in this application specilical-z ly described one form whichA my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same has been shown for purposes of illus-tration and that Athe in-` vention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from trolling means foi` selectively actuating said VclutchesV including a slidable handle having clutch teeth on its opposite ends and an intermediate grasping portion, and. clutch elements operatively connected to said clutches respectively, said handle being bodily shiftclutch elements and when in one position be'- ing operative to control one clutch and when in another position to control another clutch.

2. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanism vincluding a speed controlling clutch and a main feed control clutch, ofcontrolling means for selectively actuating said clutches including a rotatable operating rod operatively connected to one clutch, an operating element for rotating said rod to operate said last mentioned clutch, and means including a cam connectible to said operating element for rotation therewith, and a lever cooperating'with said cam for effecting application of `another' clutch. 4

3. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanism including a pluralityof speed controlling clutches and `a main feed controlling clutch, of controlling mea-ns for said clutches including a rotatable actuating rod for said speed controlling clutches whose rotary movement controls,

said speed controlling clutches and a reciproment controls said feed controlling clutch, a handle common to the actuation of all of said clutches for operating said rods, said'handle being rotatable to effect application of said different yclutches and movable bodily into different positions to alternatively actuate `able into alternative engagement with said v `cable actuating rod for saidmain feed coni trolling clutch whose reciprocatory .move- 4. In a mining machine, the combination y with machine feeding mechanism including a plurality of speed controlling clutches and a main feed controlling clutch,`of controlling means for said clutches comprising a rotata-Y ble actuating rodv for said speedcontrolling clutches andV a reciprocable actuating rod for said main feed controlling clutch, a handle coaxial with said rotatable rod, a cam mem"- ber, said handle being slidable bodily into operative engagementl with either said rotatable rod orsaid cam member, and connections between said cam member and said reciprocable rod. Y n

5. vIn a mining machine,. thev combination CTI Cil

with machine feeding mechanism including a plurality of controlling clutches, of controlling means for said clutchesincluding a rotatable shaft for operating one clutch,a rotatable member mounted coaxially with said shaft and operatively connected to another clutch, and a commoncontrol handle mounted on said shaft and shiftable, While still supported-on said shaftpbodily into operative engagement with either said shaft or said rotatable member.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanism including a plurality of controlling clutches, of controlling means for said clutches including a rotatable actuating rod for one clutch, a reciprocable actuating` rod for another clutch,

-cam operated means for actuatingsaid re- 'ciprocable rod, and a common control handle coaxial with said rotatable rod and slidable bodily into operative engagement with either said v rotatable rod or said cam operated means.

7. In a mining machine, the combination withv machine feeding mechanism including a plurality` of controlling clutches, of controlling means for said clutches comprising a rotatable actuating rod for one clutch, a reciprocable actuating rod for another clutch, achandle slidably mounted coaxially with vsaid rotatable rod, a cam member rotatably mounted coaxially with said rotatable rod, said handle being slidable bodily into operative engagement with either said rotatable rod or said cam member, and connections between said cam member and said reciprocable rod.

y 8. In a mining machine, the combination withmachine feeding mechanism including a plurality of controlling clutches, of controlling means for said clutches comprising a pivoted'shipper member controlling two of 'said clutches, a rotatable shipper member arranged coaxial with and controlling another clutch, Va rotatable rod for actuating said pivoted shipper' member, a reciprocable rod for actuating said rotatable -shipper member, and a common'control handle for controlling all of said clutches and shiftable into diiferent positions and when in one'position being operative to control said rotatable rod and when in a different position to control said reciprocable rod. y

9. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanismincluding a plurality of controlling clutches, of controlling means for said clutches including an actuating rod for one clutch, an actuating rod for another clutch, said rods being arranged in adjacency at substantially right angles, and a common control handle for all of said clutches and shiftable into different lpositions to operate different clutches, means controlling the operating position of one rod and when ina different position cont-rolling the operating position of the other rod.

Y l0. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanism including a plurality ofcontrolling clutches, of controlling means for said clutches including a rotatable rod for actuating one clutch, a rotat-V able cam member coaxial with said rod,clutch elements on said rod and cam member Yrespectively, and a common control handle slidably mounted coaxially with said rod between said clutch elements and having clutch elements on its opposite ends and operative when in one position to Arotate said cam to control one clutch and when in a different position to actuate said red to control another clutch. y

1l. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanism including a plurality of controlling clutches, of controlling means for said clutches including a rotatable rod for actuating one clutch, a reciprocable rod for actuating another clutch, a

vrotatable cam member coaxial with said rotatable rod, a pivoted lever operatively connecting said cam member and reciprocable rod so that when said cam is rotated said rod Y is moved axially, and a common control handle slidably mounted coaxially with said rotatable rod and shiftable by sliding movement therealong into ydifferent positions to operate different clutches, said handle when in one position controlling said cam member and when in a different position controlling said rotatable rod. l

12. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feeding mechanism including a plurality of controlli-ng clutches one of which is aymain feedvcontrolling clutch, of controlling means for said clutches including a rotatable actuating rod for one clutch, a reciprocable actuating rod for another clutch, means including a handle common to thev actuation of all of said clutches and movable into different operating` positions for selectively actuating said rods to eect application of different clutches, said handle vbeing entirely disconnected from one rod when connected to the other, and means for guiding said handle during its bodily `positioning movement from one operating position to another.

13. In a mining machine, the combination with machine feedin mechanism includinga plurality of controlling clutches one of which is a main feed controlling clutch, of controllingV means for said clutches including a rotatable actuating rod for one clutch, a reciprocable actuating rod for another clutch, f

means including a handle common to the actuation of all of said clutches and arranged coaxially with oneof said rods and movable into differentoperating positions for selectively actuating said rods to effect application of different clutches, said handle being entirely disconnected from one rod when connected to the other, and means for guiding said handle during its bodily positioning movement from one operating position to another.

14. In a mining machine, the combination with machine Jfeeding mechanism including a plurality of controllin clutches one of which is a main feed controlIing clutch, of controlling means for said clutches including a ro` tatable actuating rod for one clutch, a reciprocable actuating rod for another clutch, and

means including a handle common to the actuation of all of said clutches and arranged coaxially with one of said rods, said handle being slidable in opposite directions relative to said coaxial rod into dierent operating positions for selectively actuating said rods,V

said handle being disconnected from said clutchactuating rods during bodily shifting thereof from one operating position to an other.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

MORRIS P. HOLMES. Y 

